Portfolio
Graphics
These graphics were created for social media to promote different events. The wine project is for the Highlands Food and Wine Festival with one feed post and two correlating story posts.
The hummingbird is a project I did in class where I took an ad in a local newspaper and made it into a feed post for their social media account.
Photography
I have always had a passion for photography. I was the kid who got a digital camera for her 13th birthday. I was thrilled to learn that I had a photography assignment in one of my classes.
The only image that was taken on a professional camera on my own time is the one of the rainbow above. The rest were for my class project where I had the objective of showing different aspects of photography like light and texture.
Reporting
Beat Q&A
Interview with John Culpepper Sept. 17, 2024 (Photo/Maddie McDonald)
John Culpepper, an Athens native, is the county commissioner for District Seven, one of ten districts in Athens, GA whose goal is to reduce homelessness and increase infrastructure projects in his community.
Q: How do you think growing up in Athens has shaped your views as county commissioner compared to the other nine of your colleagues?
A: Being here all my life gives me a lot of pride in the way this city used to be, yeah, and I realized that things have to change and they have to evolve, but a lot of things have changed, and we’ve lost a lot of identity the city used to have.
Q: So I know that when you were running in 2022 you talked about wanting to improve the infrastructure in your district. How much of that property tax do you think is, or is actually going back to improving that infrastructure?
A: Before I got elected, I guess it might have been 2020 or 2022, it was a 2020 SPLOST (special purpose local options sales tax). They had all these projects they had planned. TSPLOTS (transportation special purpose local options sales tax) projects are supposed to be for infrastructure. Yeah, they did not do that. They spent a fortune on bypass and other things that we should have used for infrastructure. Sewer, storm, drain, stuff like that.
Q: I know that you work on the board for the Salvation Army and you know people are bringing homeless people in from other counties, but have you seen an uptick of people that kind of have been here their whole lives losing their houses and becoming homeless?
A: Affordable housing is a big buzzword that we need to create more affordable housing, and that can be a house that somebody can afford to move into, but it can also be a house that somebody can afford to pay their property taxes. You know, there’s two sides of it. So you’ve got somebody that’s been here their whole life, a retired person that’s on a fixed income, and if their property taxes go up, you know, a couple hundred dollars they’re living on month to month. You know, that’s a big deal and so it gets to the point where they can’t afford to pay their property taxes, so they’re selling their houses.
Q: So your son, Hamilton, just graduated from the University of Georgia. Have you seen him kind of struggling trying to get his first apartment or get his house or pay rent because of the spike in property taxes and just inflation in general?
A: Yeah. So there is a housing shortage across the board and, you know, the university grew a lot and did not build any new dorms. The first new dorm they had was the one that opened on Thatcher Street last year. Two years ago? That’s the first new one they’ve had. Now their enrollment has gone up. They’re building another one next to Mimi, next to Morris. They’ll start putting down the groundwork so the university has raised their enrollment, but hasn’t increased their housing. So what’s happened is we had a lot of new apartments coming in and all that new stuff downtown. That stuff is just now coming online. I mean this year was the first year the Rambler was open. And it’s ridiculous, but what will happen is those are the latest and newest ones.
Why I wrote the story:
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John Culpepper was an incredible source to be able to interview with his knowledge of the Athens area. He showed me what it was like to run your own business and still be a part of your community in a positive way.
Event Preview Story
Athfest is Bigger and Better Taking on Year Six
Guido Hrovat, a member of the Athens band Beast Mode, plays the drums outside Pulaski Heights BBQ during the 2023 Athens Historic Porchfest. The event marked the fifth annual Porchfest celebration. (Photo/Andrea Hudson)
The streets of Athens will come alive with music at the Historic Athens Porchfest, its sixth annual event this year. More than 200 artists will perform across seven historic Athens neighborhoods. Admission to the events is free and open to all ages. The festival will take place on Oct. 20 from noon to 8 p.m.
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Porchfest is an annual series of concerts that promotes Athens’ talented local musicians on multiple "stages." The concerts occur on the porches of residents who volunteer their homes to become a stage for rising and established musicians alike. This year’s Porchfest will be the largest to date and has grown exponentially since its inaugural year. More than 33 performers will be performing per hour this year (flagpole). The event aims to unite the community and promote inclusion and diversity within the area. In past years, attendees have ranged from children just learning to walk to seniors, all gathering to celebrate local culture and the deep roots of music in this southern town.
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SJ Usrey, a local musician who has hosted and performed at Porchfest, reflected on the event's uniqueness at a media availability. “It’s really nice because it’s outside,” Usrey said. “People just get to go from house to house, and it keeps it very real.” Usrey’s experience highlights the community engagement fostered by the event. Alison Miller, another Athens resident who hosts musicians on her porch, said she is stepping outside her comfort zone this year by hosting a band that plays music she wouldn’t typically listen to.
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Music is not the only attraction at Porchfest this year. Although this is the festival’s sixth year, it will feature several new elements. Denise Sunta, event coordinator for Historic Athens, expressed excitement about these additions during a media availability in September. A trolley, sponsored by Athentic Brewing Company, will shuttle listeners throughout the seven neighborhoods. Porchfest is also partnering with SoundCloud to provide swag bags and offer further insights into the participating musicians. Additionally, Indie South will host an artisan market, giving attendees a chance to explore and purchase locally crafted goods. These new features aim to enrich everyone's Porchfest experience (historic athens).
Because of the size of the event and limited parking, attendees are encouraged to leave their cars at home and use transportation options such as biking or walking. The new trolley service will help guests explore the neighborhoods, making it easier for seniors and people with disabilities to enjoy the music. While Porchfest continues to grow, organizers are committed to maintaining its grassroots charm while enhancing accessibility for all attendees.
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Two additional events will take place in the days leading up to Porchfest. The first is the Porchfest Weekend Kickoff Party on Oct. 18 at Athentic Brewing Company where attendees can enjoy Athens trivia, karaoke, and more. The second is the Historic Athens One Story Heritage Walks on Oct. 19 offering guided tours through three historic neighborhoods where participants can learn more about Athens’ rich history.
Why I wrote the story:
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Covering Athfest in Athens was no small feat. I had the opportunity to cover and be among a lot of talent which was an amazing experience to have. It showed me how to balance working and having a little bit of fun at an event which is a key skill to have.
Meeting Story
Local Commissioners Crack Down on Short-Term Rentals in Their County
The outside of the Oconee County administrative building is lit up before the commissioners’ meeting on Dec. 3, 2024. This is the last meeting being held before the new year. (Photo/Maddie McDonald)
A local non-profit foundation in Oconee County denied a hardship variance during the twice-monthly commissioners meeting concerning short-term rental, fearing it would open the floodgates to other residents applying for one. The county’s commissioners decided the denial with a unanimous vote.
The Elizabeth Price Dolvin Foundation, represented by John Constantino with Constantino Law, presented their hardship variance on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. According to local ordinances, a short-term rental must have its owner staying on the property while it is rented out. Constantino fought for the allowance of having a property manager on the property when it was being rented instead of having the owner present because a non-profit organization owned it. Because the property is owned by a non-profit, it doesn’t have one owner to fulfill the requirement.
One citizen associated with the property in question stated that she did not live in the basement of the rental property but rather in the basement of another house on the property. She explained that 3472 is up the hill from where she lives. She lives in unit 3474, which is in the basement of 3470. Whether she is the proposed property manager in the hardship variance is still being determined and was unclear at the meeting.
Chuck Horton, Post 2, on the commissioner's board, voiced a broader opinion. “If we approve this, what would stop everybody in the county from coming up with a hardship?” he said. The commissioners voted against the hardship variance as recommended by the staff. The unanimous vote showed the consistency maintained within the county to prevent unintended consequences.
In other events, the committee moved to approve Justin Greer's proposition with Greer Construction to rezone a property off Paul Brown Parkway from residential to commercial. On behalf of White Oak Development Properties, Greer described turning the property into a hotel and health and wellness center if the rezone was permitted. Greer went into detail about everything the property would include, including the number of rooms available for stay at the hotel, 92. The committee's vote was a unanimous yes.
The respective parties read the end-of-year audit and budget because it was the last commissioners’ meeting of 2024. Everything seemed to be in order, and neither report had glaring issues. The county is set to move into the new year as new members of different boards and committees were appointed. Those appointed to positions start their respective roles on Jan. 1, 2025.
Sources:
Chuck Horton
Post 2 Oconnee County Commissioners Board
Why I wrote the story:
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Covering the Oconee County Commissioners Meeting taught me that even small meetings are important. It's common to only focus on the big things that are making national news, but all news is important and shapes the society we are today.